NC Schools- Why So Bad? (Charlotte, Durham: chapel, home, private schools)

[Oldiebutgoodie26]

Looking for a teaching job in the fall, I have been skimming these posts about schools. Many of you that have elementary kids in school have expressed your dissatisfaction with the public schools. May I ask, what specifically bothers you? Is it the curriculum? Crowded schools? Old, dilapidated buildings? No resources (books, computers)? I know what everyone wants out of their child's school is different, but, I have come across few posts about parents approving of the schools in NC. I live in PA, where the schools are *pretty good*, so long as you stay away from major urban areas. This is why there are few jobs here. I'd like to move and was looking into teaching in NC. Why all the displeasure with the school systems in NC? It seems pretty widespread, too. Just curious! I know why they need hundreds of teachers in Baltimore (I taught there)- they have trouble keeping people. What's the skinny on the schools in NC?

I was just looking for a nice school, where I am allowed to teach the curriculum without 17 people (school admin) breathing down my neck every second of the day, fairly cooperative kids, engaged parents, the room to meet the kids' needs, math tests and spelling bees, a good rousing kickball game between teachers and students, an end of the year picnic, school spirit and community support. All I am reading is, "We have terrible schools down here!", and I just wondered why. Perhaps I could come on down and help....

[ausmerika]

Originally Posted by Oldiebutgoodie26

I was just looking for a nice school, where I am allowed to teach the curriculum without 17 people (school admin) breathing down my neck every second of the day, fairly cooperative kids, engaged parents, the room to meet the kids' needs, math tests and spelling bees, a good rousing kickball game between teachers and students, an end of the year picnic, school spirit and community support.

You need to look at private schools, or a charter school (but be careful--not all charter schools are what they are cracked up to be!). It's NCLB that's ruined things for teachers here (and across the country I would venture to say). That, and the fact that this area is growing so rapidly that it is difficult to recruit and keep quality teachers. The scenario you describe sounds like something out of a movie nowadays, or at the very least, is something from a bye-gone era when one parent stayed home and therefore were able to be more involved. The closes thing I know you'll come to what you want is in CHCCS.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by Oldiebutgoodie26

Looking for a teaching job in the fall, I have been skimming these posts about schools. Many of you that have elementary kids in school have expressed your dissatisfaction with the public schools. May I ask, what specifically bothers you? Is it the curriculum? Crowded schools? Old, dilapidated buildings? No resources (books, computers)? I know what everyone wants out of their child's school is different, but, I have come across few posts about parents approving of the schools in NC. I live in PA, where the schools are *pretty good*, so long as you stay away from major urban areas. This is why there are few jobs here. I'd like to move and was looking into teaching in NC. Why all the displeasure with the school systems in NC? It seems pretty widespread, too. Just curious! I know why they need hundreds of teachers in Baltimore (I taught there)- they have trouble keeping people. What's the skinny on the schools in NC?

I was just looking for a nice school, where I am allowed to teach the curriculum without 17 people (school admin) breathing down my neck every second of the day, fairly cooperative kids, engaged parents, the room to meet the kids' needs, math tests and spelling bees, a good rousing kickball game between teachers and students, an end of the year picnic, school spirit and community support. All I am reading is, "We have terrible schools down here!", and I just wondered why. Perhaps I could come on down and help....

Not sure where you are reading how "terrible" the schools in NC are?? There are surely lower performing schools in some areas (inner city Charlotte, Durham or some poor rural counties), but there are also many fine schools throughout the state. If teaching in a more challenging environment is not for you then look to teach in places like Chapel Hill, Cary, south Charlotte, western Union County, or even tiny Brevard in the mountains, just to name a few.

When people talk about "terrible schools" anywhere it is usually because of the high incidence of disruptive students - students who aren't really there to learn and who are not being taught to value an education at home. Teacher salaries are set by the state so you will find them pretty even across the board. Good luck.

[mm34b]

I don't agree that NC public schools are bad overall. However, if you're coming from a state that spends millions more on public schools than here, I understand why some newcomers feel that way. A lot of them are fleeing states with high taxation. Better schools cost money. Nothing is free.

StateMaster - Best Educated Index (most recent) by state

[Asheville Native]

A good friend is a teacher for gifted programs in the public schools. He is retiring after this school year out of disgust, disgust for the policies that are beyond the control of the county or state, but mandated by "no child left behind", stupidity out of Washington.

And generally schools are not teaching skills and life skills that will serve our students well after they enter the work force. They are only teaching to the test for next round of state mandated standard tests, which have their roots in federal legislation tied to the education dollar.

Want to really screw up education, put government in charge of designing the curriculum instead of educators.

[Asheville Native]

Originally Posted by mm34b

Better schools cost money.

That is an urban legend that has been disproved many times. It might provide better school buildings, but it does NOT fix poor education policies. Throwing good money at a poor plan just creates a more robust bad plan.

[mm34b]

Originally Posted by Asheville Native

That is an urban legend that has been disproved many times. It might provide better school buildings, but it does NOT fix poor education policies. Throwing good money at a poor plan just creates a more robust bad plan.

I don't know of any state that spends little on public education, but still has great schools. Which state is a good example of this?

[jaynarie]

Stepping in with an educator's view point:

Here, in North Carolina, the poorer schools often have more resources and are in better structural/cosmetic condition. This is due to special funding (such as Title I) that they qualify for. I visited a nearby school a few months ago and came back angry! The area I work in is fairly wealthy, yet the school I visited was in much better condition, with much more technology and better resources. The reason was that they are a Title I school.

In Michigan, where I originate, even with Title I funding, the poor schools are inferior. They can not keep up with the weathier districts that pass a tax increase for everything they need. This is where I dislike the county-wide district practice. If your school needs a new roof, new flooring, new windows, whatever, you pass a local tax increase to pay for it. It keeps schools in better working conditions For example, my windows are painted shut and one day in September the air broke. It was a miserable day!

I don't want schools to suffer either way (poor, average, or wealthy). I think that school's should receive their funding from the community if they can afford it and from the government if they can't. It's not fair for some to have more than others!

[Asheville Native]

Originally Posted by mm34b

I don't know of any state that spends little on public education, but still has great schools. Which state is a good example of this?

That is not what I said.
The root of our education crisis is not "inadequate funding" but that our incorrect assumption that more money will fix anything is delaying true and necessary reform. Spending more money on a broken system will not fix the problem, it will make it bigger and thus harder to 'fix'.

[mm34b]

Monetary resources is no guarantee of excellent schools, but inadequate resources are a guarantee of less than stellar ones. Like I said earlier, better schools cost money. No urban legend about that, just reality.